Hooded mergansers are not uncommon or rare but I was still pretty pumped. Even though I love taking pictures of eagles and trumpeter swans, I have really been looking forward to a little more variety.
The hooded merganser can be found only in North America. It is the smallest species of merganser in North America and the second smallest of the six species world wide. It is a diving duck that uses its clear nictitating membrane to protect its open eyes so that it can see underwater to hunt for fish.The hooded merganser was one of the last birds that I saw leave this area to migrate. I am hoping that seeing them return is a sign that the spring migration may soon begin.
3 comments:
Those are beautiful birds. I see you have link to the Sax-Zim Bog Birding Festival. Will you be going? Another Minnesota bird blogger and I will be attending also. I would like to post link to your site if I may.
Thanks or visiting Lynne. Yes I will be at the Sax Zim Bog Birding Festival next week. It should be a good time.I have put up a link to your site.
These are wonderfully stylish little birds and I look forward to seeing them every winter. There are several groups of them in front of the house now, with three large rafts of 250-300 redheads a little farther out. I live on Santa Rosa Sound on the north Florida Gulf coast near Pensacola. Last week we had 2 swans.
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